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Kenya: Marsabit County Named Most Suitable for Spaceport

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Nairobi — Marsabit County has been named as the most suitable County to set up a Spaceport.

It was named by Viwanda Africa Group, Longshot Space Technology, and a team of student engineering researchers drawn from Kenyatta and Nairobi universities which examined the viability of establishing a Spaceport in Kenya.

Marsabit emerged the winner from a list of 7 key contenders including Laikipia, Kilifi, Tana River, Isiolo, Turkana and Narok Counties.

Speaking Monday while receiving the report, Kenya Space Agency Director General Col. Hilary Kipkosgey says the benefits of establishing a spaceport capable of launching rockets within Kenya are numerous and would positively impact on the growth of the country.

“The development of highly innovative industries such as this provides current and future employment opportunities in many sectors, and the potential for growth in supporting industries. Development of such a spaceport would also foster research, innovation and growth of knowledge within this country, rippling out to Kenya taking the lead globally as a significant player in the space sector,” Kipkosgey said.

Kenyatta University Chairperson, Department of Mechanical Engineering Eng. Victor Mwongera, Principle investigator and aerospace engineer said the report provides a strong initial examination on the viability of establishing a spaceport in Kenya.

“The report examines the benefits of establishing the spaceport, the ideal location, the considerations that must be made, its commercial viability as well as how the private and public sector should work together to make it a reality. The case made here shows that establishment of the spaceport is not only a viable idea, but something that we as a nation should aim to pursue,” said Dr Mwongera.

The Kenya Spaceport Research, which drew data from various national and global organizations, as well as guidance from the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), carried out an assessment among all the 47 counties where Marsabit County emerged as the most favorable location to set up a Space Port due to its large tracts of unoccupied, affordable land, sparse population density, low trafficked airspace, generally flat terrain and proximity to the LAPPSET corridor.

“The Space sector requires innovative, committed and forward-thinking minds; something our young people have in abundance. This is therefore an area Kenya can grow and lead in,” Viwanda Africa CEO Nyambura Kamau noted.

The interest to carry out the survey in Kenya originated from the geographic advantages the country sits on as a potential launch site: an interest shared by the US based space start-up company Long Shot.

“If you look at a World map you see that Kenya is among 6 or 7 countries in the world with ideal placement for a space launch. After researching Kenya and paying a visit to Nairobi, I discovered a further advantage the nation has which may make it unique in the world; its people,” Longshot Space Technology CEO Mike Grace said.